Glaucoma scintillans is a very common ciliate that is particularly common in nutrient-rich habitats with high bacterial densities. It is also regularly found in hay infusions.

Although Glauoma scintillans is relatively small, measuring approximately 50-60 µm in length, it is noticeable in samples due to the fanning activity of the membranelles in the mouth opening. These move at a frequency of 7–10 Hz, which is easily visible to the human eye. The mouth opening itself is vertical and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body, but the adoral membrane and the undulating membrane are slightly slanted, which is typical for the genus Glaucoma. Upon closer inspection of the mouth opening, the three adoral membranelles are clearly visible (s. fig. 4). At the anterior end of membranelle 2, there is also a small, slightly offset ciliated field called the X-body (s. fig. 4).

The food of Glaucoma scintillans appears to consist exclusively of bacteria found in all food vacuoles. The globular macronucleus with attached micronucleus is located in the center of the body (s. fig. 6). The contractile vacuole is located at the border to the posterior third (s. figs. 3 b and 4) and was drawn too far shifted posterior by Liebmann (s. drawing 2, above).

To my knowledge, the very small extrusomes, which are located benenath to the pellicle, have not yet been described in detail. According to my observations, they are rod-shaped and have a length of 1.5 µm (s. fig. 6).

In some specimens of Glaucoma scintillans, I was able to detect transverse striations on the pellicle, which are also sometimes found in other species of the genus Glaucoma (s. fig. 5 a-b). However, these transverse striations did not appear to be equally pronounced in all specimens. In some specimens, they seemed to be absent.